On a clear January day in 2018, the 68-year-old sport pilot of a Van's RV-12 took off from Fort Myers, Florida, bound for Everglades City, a trip of 51 nautical miles. Before taking off, the pilot had requested flight following, but when he was airborne and the tower controller told him to contact departure control, the pilot did not respond. The controller repeated the instruction and, after checking whether the departure controller had heard from the pilot, tried a third time. There was still no response. A minute later, the departure controller established radio contact with the pilot. Communication did not go smoothly. Departure controller: "Two-six-two Whiskey Sierra, Fort Meyers, are you up?" Pilot of 262WS: "Two-six-two Whiskey Sierra." Departure: "Two-six-two Whiskey Sierra, radar contact, turn right heading one-seven-zero vector, climb, maintain VFR 2,500." Pilot: "Continue my climb to-say again?" Departure: "Two-six-two Whiskey Sierra, maintain VFR at 2,500." Pilot: "Maintain 2,500. Course is now what?
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